Connector assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly having a male connector body engagable with a female connector body. At least one female terminal is mounted in one of the connector bodies and the terminal includes a contact portion having a generally cylindrical shape with opposing ends and a plurality of contact beams extending between the ends to define a reduced effective diameter located between the ends. The assembly also includes a preassembled terminal position assurance mechanism, which for providing an indicia of whether the terminal is fully seated within the connector body, and a preassembled connector position assurance mechanism, which provides an indicia of whether the connector bodies are fully engaged with one another.

We claim: 
     
       1. A connector assembly comprising: a male connector body having a terminal insertion end, a mating end and a plurality of terminal receiving cavities defined therein;   a female connector body having a terminal insertion end, a mating end and a plurality of terminal receiving cavities defined therein, said mating end of said female connector body being configured to axially receive said mating end of said male connector body thereinto and engage said male and female connector bodies together;   a plurality of terminals being insertable into said cavities; and   terminal position assurance member providing indicia of said terminal being fully seated within said cavity and being mounted to said terminal insertion end of one of said male and female connector bodies for axial movement in a direction of engagement between said male and female connector bodies between a preassembled position and an engaged position, said terminal position assurance member further including a deflectable portion extending generally into said terminal end of said one of said male and female connector bodies and having a pushing surface defined thereon, said deflectable portion permitting insertion of said terminal into said one of said cavities when in said preassembled position, said terminal insertion end also including a member deflecting said deflectable portion to a location axially behind said terminal during movement of said terminal position assurance member from said preassembled position into said engaged position, wherein said pushing surface is located to engage behind said terminal with said pushing surface engaging and causing said terminal to be fully seated within said one of said cavities as said terminal position assurance member is moved from said preassembled position to said engaged position, wherein said means for deflecting said deflectable portion includes a ramp, said ramp being positioned to engage a portion of said deflectable portion during movement of said deflectable portion between said preassembled and engaged positions, and wherein said ramp engages an undersurface of said deflectable portion.   
     
     
       2. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said deflectable portion includes portions defining angled lead-in surfaces for directing terminals into said cavities. 
     
     
       3. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a deflectable arm on said terminal position assurance member, said deflectable arm retainingly engaging a portion of said connector body to alternately secure said terminal position assurance member in said preassembled and engaged positions. 
     
     
       4. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a pair of spaced apart locking members on said deflectable arm for alternately securing said terminal position assurance member in said preassembled and engaged positions. 
     
     
       5. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locking members are deflectable to permit disengagement of said terminal position assurance member out of said engaged and preassembled positions. 
     
     
       6. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said terminal position assurance member includes a retention member engaging said male or female connector body and retaining said terminal position member in said preassembled and said engaged positions.